Flexible port closure



Aug. 13, 1940. l.. A. BROOKE 2,211,491 FLEXIBLE PORT CLOSURE v Filed April 27, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l Allg. 13, 1940. L? A, BRQOKE 2,211,491

FLEXIBLE PORT CLOSURE Filed April 27, 1959 5 sheets-Sheet 2 lg3d Afrooke.

Aug. 13, 1940. l.. A. BROOKE FLEXIBLE PORT cLosURE v'5 sheets-sheet s Filed April 27, 1939 Aug. 13, 1940. L. A. BROOKE FLEXIBLE PORT CLOSURE Filed April 27, 1559 5 sheets-sheet 4 Aug. 13, 1940.

l.. A. BROOKE v 2,211,491 FLEXIBLE PORT cLosuRE Filed April 27, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheefl 5 Patented Aug. 13, 1949 FLELE PORT CLOSURE rLloyd A. Brooke,

Application April 27,

17 Claims.

My invention relates to a method of effectively sealing the port openings in the housings for guns, machine guns, range iinders, tank guns, airplane mountings, telescope port openings, and the like, so as to protect the personnel from machine gun re and bursting shell fragments, and to keep out water, dust, smoke, gas and the like by an apparatus that may be manufactured of armor plate, preferably, varied in size, strength, Weight and construction of de- -sign to meet any condition that may be required, that may be operated by a means that will not put any load on the equipment to which it is attached, and .that will be simple to manufacture and may be readily installed or repaired.

The means by which this is accomplished, being manufactured preferably entirely of metal, consists generally of:

A series of members, bars, in either the vertical or horizontal planes that fit together at the sides with each other, while the faces of the bars lit to a metal flange secured to the housing. The bar members are kept in contact with said ange by rollers on a spring-like shaft or a spring bearing, vWhile the Weight of the bars, in the vertical plane arrangements, is supported by rollers or ball bearings. The bar members are attached to each other by means of chain links, making them flexible, and are so constructed that they may be actuated by a sprocketor gear driven by a motor controlled by a variable speed gear, or driven by a gear train from the movement of the equipment, or in any other approved manner. This gives aexible closure for port openings that will effectively seal the openings, that can be conveniently housed at the ends in comparatively little space, that can be readily installed and repaired, and that will add but little weight to the housing and no load on the operating mechanism of the equipment. In the case of range finders the closure, being located near the ends of the equipment, acts as a steadying member.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be Apointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides, inI

Washingtqn, n. c.

1939, senaiNo. 210,456

pended claims, reference being had to the ac. companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a typical closure for small or medium-sized rotating and oscillating equipment, the portion above the center line being shown with the upper guide rail removed, while the portion below the center line shows a section taken at the line l--I in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 1 with the section taken at the line 2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the flexible closure, on an enlarged scale to show more detail, with the section taken on approximately the line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of Fig.` 4.

Fig. 6 is a lower portion of the closure in cross Fig. '7 is a partial side elevation of a typical closure for medium and large oscillating equipment, with the section taken on the center line 1--1 of Fig. 8 of a gun turret mount.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of Fig. 7, with the other side showing the port opening with the equipment removed.

Fig. 10 is a side view of one end ofthe closure bars, in detail and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 1l is an end view of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a partial side elevation of a typical simple closure with pivotal and sliding bearing for small oscillating equipment, with the section taken on the center line, of a small gun turret mount.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of Fig. 12, with a partial section at the center line. 4

Fig. 14 is a rear elevation of Fig. 12, with most of the equipment removed.

Fig. l5 is a side view of one end of the closure bar in detail and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 16 is an end view of Fig. 15.

A practical embodiment of the invention in three forms is disclosed in the drawings, in which similar numerals indicate correspondingA parts throughout the several views, as follows:

Referring to drawings Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, one end of the equipment I (range finder) is shown projecting out of the housing or turret 2, through the port opening 3, which may or may not be fitted, as the equipment requires, with the hood 4. The hood 4 is fitted with the open port 5 to give the necessary visibility for the eye of the equipment I in rotation, as Well as oscillation. The inner edge of the port opening 3 is iitted with a flange 6, preferably of a rustresisting, non-corrosive metal, secured to the housing 2 by any suitable means. The inner face of the flange t, finished in an arc radial with the center of the pivotal point of the equipment, is the sealing and bearing surface for the face 8 of the bars 'I which fit it and are held against it in a manner hereinafter described. 'I'he bars 1 may be manufactured of any suitable material, preferably metal, in any width or thickness, and in any manner that conditions may require.

As shown, these bars 1 are constructed of channel irons with end pieces or blocks 9 and I0 secured to the bars in any approved manner. The sides of bars 1 arev true and must t with each other in order to make a seal, and they may be so Yfinished that when they are together on the sealing surface of the flange 6 they will take up any lost motion in the connecting chain links II with which the bars 1 are fitted and'attached to each other at or near the end of each bar. The links of the chain II, of suflicient strength to carry the required series of bars 1 to make the closure, are joined by the pins I2 and I3 in the ends 9 and IIJ in a recess for that purpose. The pins I2 and I3 are fitted with heads and secured by the lock screws I4, or in any other l approved manner. These pins may be made continuous, if desired, going from top to bottom of the bar 1. The lower end I0 is further provided with a recess I5 through which the pin I3 passes (although either end, or both ends, may be so provided), acting to engage the driving sprocket or gear I6 for the purpose of actuating the closure. The pins l2 and I3 continue on out of the ends 9 and IIJ, where a reduced diameter and length is fitted on the end with the ball-bearing rollers I1. 'Ihe reduced diameter and its length are such that there will be given a spring eect, putting the rollers I1 under a suiiicient tension on the vguide rails I8 and I9 to keep the outer face 8 of the bars 1 properly in contact with the sealing surface of the flange 6. Any other suitable means may be employed properly to maintain his contact.

The guide rails I8 and I9, in this case secured to the housing by any approved means, are fitted with anges 20 and 2l against which the bars 1 willcome to rest when any shock, or the like, drives one or more of ,them to the rear, thus taking the strain off the roller spring before any damage is done to the roller or bearing and preventing it from returning the bar or bars to their former position. The lower rail I9 has a horizontal surface 22 on which the ball-bearing roller 23, fitted to the lower end of eachor every other of the bars 1, contacts to carry the fweight and make the moving of the closure easy -and smooth. The rollersmay be fitted to the upper ends of the bars and operated on a track, or the weight and movement may be carried on a series of ball or roller bearings 23B, as-shown by Fig. 6.

In close proximityl to the equipment I and around it is the plate or slab 24, formed to fit the sides of the bars 1 next to it (see Fig. 4) and fitted with pieces 25 and 26 which are constructed to meet the required conditions and' to conform with the bars 1. Where the equipment I passes through the plate 24 the seal against rotation is made by the labyrinth closing device 21, as shown. In closures where an observation window or sight hole is required, it may be placed in the plate 24 as shown at 28. The plate 24 may be in two sections and joined by the flange on the labyrinth device 21, or in any other apamasar proved manner. In oscillating equipment where the labyrinth closing device 21 is not necessary but where it is required to open the port closure at times for ventilation, the plate 24 with the pieces 25 and 26 may be divided on the vertical center line and secured by latches so that it can be opened and closed readily.

The driving sprocket I6 may be placed at any convenient point above or below the equipment, or both, with its bearing 29 designed and secured in any approved manner. The sprocket should preferably be driven by a motor whose speed and direction are controlled by a variable speed gear the tilting box of which is actuated by and synchronized to the movement of the equipment, or it may be possible under some conditions to drive the sprocket I6 by a gear train actuated by the movement of the equipment, or in equipment where there is a steadying and operating means well removed from the center of the equipment I and near the inner wall of the housing 2, the plate 24 or the stationary ring of the labyrinth closing device 21 may be attached to, or integral with, this steadying and operating means, thus doing away with any means other than this to actuate the port closure mechanism.

The ends of the port closure not in contact with the sealing surface of the flange 6 may be stowed or housed in housings such as shown by 30 or 3l, secured and supported in any approved manner where conditions permit, or they may be housed in a housing following the curvature of the port closure. Y

Referring to Figs. '1 to 11, inclusive, showing an oscillating equipment (turret gun mount) the gun proper 40 is mounted, carried, in the usual slide 4I supported by trunnions 42 in the deck lugs 43 which in turn are supported and secured to the girders in the turret pan 44. The turret or housing 45, tted with port 3X in the front plate 2X, is supported in the usual manner on a roller path below the turret pan 44 and surrounded by the usual barbette 46 at the top of which, and sealing it with the turret, is the labyrinth closure device 21x. The end of the counter-recoil plunger head 41 is shown below the slide. Backing the front plate 2X is, preferably, a steel casting 6x forming the closure bearing surface, which is fitted or lined with a noncrrosive metal plate GY (Fig. 10) secured in any approved manner, upon which the closure bars 1x make the seal. The bars 1x may bemanufactured of any metal, in any width or thickness, and in this case are shown in one piece including the ends 9X which are identical, but the recess for the driving sprocket may be omitted in the bars 1x abovefthe plate 24x if desired. 'I'he same conditions are met regarding the fitting of the bars 1x with each other and with the sealing surface SY. They are also tted, near the ends, with the chains III. The links of the chain must meet the required conditions, and are joined by the pins I2X, which in this case are identical in both ends, 'in a recess for that purpose. The

pins I2X.are fitted with heads and secured by lock screws I4x engaging the heads of the pins I2x as shown, or they may be secured in any approved manner, as well as being constructed of n one piece going from side to side of the port closure.

The ends of the bars 1x are further provided with the recesses I5x through whiclr the pins I2x pass, acting to engage the driving sprockets or gears I6x for the actuating of the port closure. Each pin` I2x continues on out of the ends of the bars Ix where it has a length and a reduction in diameter, for the same purpose as in the foregoing case, and on the end of which pin is fitted the ball-bearing roller IIx.

'I'he same effectVJ is met as heretofore in keeping the roller I'Ix, under slight tension, against the guide rails I8x and I9x suicientlto keep the outer face of the bars 'Ix in proper contact with the sealing surface BY of the ange 6X. Any other approved means may be employed, regarding the spring effect at the roller, to properly accomplish this contact and sealing eect.

`The guide rails I8x and IQX I9x being the opposite rail) are secured to the steel casting, forming part of the closure and the sealing surface fiange 6X, in any approved manner, but always in such manner that they may be readily assembled or removed. The rails I8x and I 9x are eachfitted with a fiange 20x, 2|x being the opposite fiange,

against which the bars Ix will come to rest when any shock, or the like, drives the bars to the rear, taking the strain off of any spring mechanism, or the like, on the rollers I'Ix and leaving them free immediately to renew the seal between the bars and the sealing surface.

In close proximity to th equipment, gun 40, and around it, but bearing on the forward bronze bearing ring 40x in the slide BI., is' the plate or slab 24X constructed so that the bars 'Ixmay be attached to it and having three or more intermediate rollers I'Ix to hold it against the sealing surface GY. Where an observation or sight hole is necessary, it maybe placed at either position shown by 28x. The plate 24x may vbe in two or more sections and joined in any approved manner. It may be possible in some cases to actuate the port closure by this plate through the motion of the mount by the elevating gear of the mount.

The driving sprocket IIix may be placed at any convenient point, but for obvious reasons it should be near the bottom of theport closure and on both sides of it, with one shaft and with the bearings 29X placedor secured in any approved manner. The sprocket IIix should, preferably, be driven by a motor as in the foregoing case, or it may be driven by the gear train 42b as shown with a toothed .arc or rack `Il2,attached to the trunnions 42 of the slide 4I and the gear ratio and hookup such that it will properly pick up the closure. Or the gear train or gears may be driven or actuated in any approved manner to accomplish the proper results.

The ends of the closure not in contact with the sealing surface BY may be stowed or housed in housings such as shown by 3l)x or'by 3|x secured and supported in any approved manner.

Referring to Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, oscillating'equipment (turret mount for small guns), vthe gun proper or gun barrel 40S' is mounted or carried, and operated and actuated in any approved manner. fitted= with the port opening 3y in the front plate 2y, is supported and rotated in any approved manner and is surrounded by the usual barbette 465' or the like, at the top of which, and sealing it with the turrent 455', is a simple form of labyrinth closure device 21V. Backing the front plate 2y is, preferably, a steel casting SY forming the closure and the bearing surface for the flexible portion, which in this case is a fiat or plane surface and which is fitted or lined with a non-corrosive metal plate 6z secured to it in any approved manner, upon which the closure bars IY make the seal. there should preferably be provided suitable The turrent or housing B5Y,`

In this case, especially,A

lubricating grooves in the face of the sealing surface Bz, as well as a proper means of lubrication,

vbut as the lubrication system is no part of the present; invention it has not been illustrated.

The bars Iy may be manufactured of any metall preferably, in the desired or required width and thickness, and in this case are shown in one piece, including the ends Sy and Illy. The ends Sy of the lower bars 'Iy include the .recess for the driving sprockets, whilethe ends IIIy of the upper bars 'IY have the recess for the driving sprockets omitted.. The same conditions are met regarding the fitting of the bars 'IY with each other and with the sealing surface EZ and, in addition, the bars are provided on one side of each with a recess in which a rubber, felt, or the' like, packing .50 may be placed. when necessary in some extreme cases.

Ihe ends SY and IIJy are also provided with the chains IIy at each end of the bars 1y. The links of the chain are joined by the pins I2y and |3Y, thus -joining the bars to `each other, in recesses for that purpose. The pins I2y and |3y, identical at each end, are secured by the set screws |45' in the bar ends SY and Illy, or they may be secured in any approved manner, as well as being constructed of one piece going from side to side of the closure bars.

'I'he ends SY of the lower bars 1y, provided with the recesses I5y through which the pins I2y pass, act to engage the driving sprockets or gears IGY to actuate the vflexible port closure. The driving sprockets I6y may beplaced at any convenient point, but for obvious reasons should be near the bottom of the fiexible port closure and on both sides of it with one shaft and with the bearings 29y placed and secured in any approved manner. The sprockets |61' should be driven by a motor whose speed and direction are controlled by a variable speed gear, the tilting box of which is actuated and synchronized by and to the movement of the equipment.

'I'he guide rails |85 and |95 (I9y being the opposite rail) are secured to the steel casting SY by means of the bolts and washer's 5| which pass through the guide rails in slotted holes, allow-- ing the rail to be set against the bars 'IY as desired, and also to allow the rails to give back (the rails bein-g held in place by the tension set up in the bolt 5|) when any shock drives the bars back, thus doing no damage to the bars or rails, which rails maybe reset at any time. 'I'he di'splacing of' the rails will not destroy the action of the equipment, but will destroy the seal against only smoke, gas, and the like. 'Ihe inner face of the rails contacting the bars 'Iy should be fitted witha suitable lubricating groove (not shown).

In close proximity and fitted around the equip-'- ment 405' is the spherical section 52 which slides right angles to the bars and is secured by the` bolts 53 passing through lugs on the plate 211y Where an Aobservation or sight hole Vis neces--J sary, it may be placed on either or V both sides of the closure, as shown by 28S'.

Where the closure requires the bars ly to be vertical, it would be necessary to employ ball or roller bearings at the lower end of the bars, as shown by Fig. 6.

The ends of the closure not in contact with the sealing surface 62 may be stowed or housed in housings such as shown by 30V and by 3IY secured and supported in any approved manner.

In closures where it is desired, and conditions permit, the sprockets and driving mechanism may be omitted and the flexible port closure may. be actuated entirely by the movement of the equipment, or the equipment may be actuated by the driving mechanism for the movementof the flexible port closure.

'I'he sealing surface may be anything from radial, with the pivotal center of the equipment, to straight. In any seal but radial the spherical and sliding member is necessary, varying in extent and size according to the curvature of the sealing surface, the largest being required in the straight or plane surface type for equipment of equal size.

Where it is required, and conditions permit, the port closure may be extended to seal a twin or triple port.

It can readily be seen from the foregoing description that such arrangements will produce an all-metal (preferably) seal that is inexpensive and effective in protecting the operating personnel against machine gun fire and bursting shell fire, Weather, rain, water, dust, gas, smoke, and the like. It will produce a closure that can be manufactured to withstand any usual shock or gun fire and that will not be affected by ice coating or the like and that can be constructed to meet any requirements for which it is intended.

It is simple in construction, manufacture, assembly and disassembly, with the parts readily replaceable at any time. It is not intended to hold any of the designs to the shape or form above shown in the drawings, or for the uses heretofore specified. Any change in the details may be made so long as the same conditions are met.

The idea is new and unique in purpose, construction and effectiveness, making a seal for port openings which I have called a "flexible port closure.

From the description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, uses and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a flexible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, and means to maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening in fluidtight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port.

2. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a flexible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening in fluid-tight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port, said contact maintaining means including adjacent true faces of the bars, articulated members connecting adjacent bars together, and resilient means to press the bars toward the Wall surrounding the port opening.

3. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of

a flexible port closure apron, resilient means continuously tending to maintain sealing contact between said apron and the wall surrounding said port, and means to protect said resilient means against injury should said apron be forced back out of contact with said Wall.

4. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a flexible port closure apron, resilient means continuously tending to maintain sealing contact between said apron and the wall surrounding said port, and means to protect said resilient means against injury should said apron be forced back out'of contact with said wall, said protecting means comprising guide rails.

5. A means for sealing a port in a housing, said means comprising a movable -apron which includes a plurality of bars or slats having true side faces for contact with one another and having true front faces, a flange secured to the housing around the port, said flange having a true sealing face for contact by the front faces of said aprons bars, means continuously urging those of' said front faces which overlie the flange into sealing contact with the flanges sealing face, and means connecting adjacent bars held overy said port together to hold their side faces in sealing contact.

6. A means for sealing a port in a housing, said means comprising a movable apron which includes a plurality of bars or slats having true side faces for contact with one another and having true front faces, a ange secured to the housing around the port, said ange having a true sealing face for contact by the front faces of said aprons bars, means continuously urging those of said front faces which overlie the flange into sealing contact with the flanges sealing face, and articulated means connecting adjacent bars held over said port together to hold their side faces in sealing contact.

'7. A means for sealing a port in a housing, said means comprising a movable apron which includes a. plurality of bars or slats having true side faces for contact with one another and having true front faces, a flange secured to the housing around the port, said flange having a truesealing face for contact by the front faces of said aprons bars, means continuously urging those of said front faces which overlie the flange into sealing contact with the fianges sealing face, means connecting adjacent bars held over said port together to hold their side faces in sealing contact, and means to protect said urging means against injury should the apron be forced inwardly away from the port flange.

8. A flexible port closure for a housing having a port through which a member projects, said closure comprising in combination with the housing and the projecting member, a face-flange rigidly mounted in the housing around its port, an apron composed of a set of parallel bars having side faces formed to lie in fluid-tight contact with one another when the bars are over the port and havingfront faces to engage with sealing contact said-face-ange, yieldable means continuously tending to press said front faces to said face-flange, and articulated means connecting adjacent bars together into a unitary structure.

9. A flexible port closure for a housing having a port through which a member projects, said closure comprising in combination with the housing and the projecting member, a face-flange rigidly mounted in the housing around its port.

.and having front faces to engage with sealing `an apron composed of a set of parallel bars having side faces formed to lie in iiuid-tight contact with one another when the bars are over the port and having front faces to engage with sealing contact saidface-ange, yieldable means continuously tending to press said front faces to said face-ange, and articulated means connecting adjacent bars together into a unitary structure, said articulated means comprising chains of links connecting the bars together at their tops and bottoms respectively.

1l. In combination with a housing having a` port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a exible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening in fluid-tight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port, said bars being vertically disposed, and means for slidably supporting said apron.

12. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a flexible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening in uidtight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port,

said bars being vertically disposed, and rollers at the lower ends of at least some of said bars for supporting the apron.

13. In combination with a housingl having aA port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a ilexible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening in fluidtight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port, said bars being vertically disposed, and ball bearings I located beneath the bottom of said apron on which the lower ends of bars ride.

14. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a exible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening in fluid-- tight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port, said bars comprising channel bars, pieces iitted into the ends of said bars, said pieces having chainlink receiving slots, pins passing through said slots, and chain links connected by said pins to connect adjacent bars ilexibly together.

15. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitableequipmentprojects, of a flexible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening'in fluidtight contact with one another and with the' portion of the housing surrounding said port, said bars comprising channel bars, pieces tted into the ends of said bars, said pieces having chain-link receiving slots, pins passing through said slots, chain links connected by said pins to connect adjacent bars iiexibly together, guide rails for the upper and lower ends of said apron, and means cooperating with said rails and said pieces for continuously pressing said bars over the port into sealing contact with the housing.

16. In combination with ahousing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a iiexible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to 'maintain such of said bars as lie over the port opening in iiuidtight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port, said bars comprising channel bars, pieces fitted into the ends of said bars, said pieces having chainlink receiving slots, pins passing through -said slots, chain links ,connectedL by said pins to connect adjacent bars iiexibly together, guide rails for the upper and lower ends of said apron, and means cooperating with said rails and said pieces for continuously pressing said bars over the port 'into sealing contact with the housing, said last named means comprising springy extensions of said pins, and rollers thereon for engaging said guide rails.l

17. In combination with a housing having a port through which a suitable equipment projects, of a flexible port closure apron comprising a series of parallel bars, means to maintain such of said bars as lie over 4the port opening in fluid-tight contact with one another and with the portion of the housing surrounding said port, said bars comprising channel bars, pieces fitted into the ends of said bars, said pieces having chain-link receiving slots, pins passing thr'ough said slots, chain links connected by said pins to Vconnect adjacent bars flexibly together, guide rails for-the upper and lower ends of said apron, means cooperating with said rails and said pieces for continuously pressing said bars over the port intov sealing contact with the -housing, said last named means comprising springy extensions of said pins, and rollers thereon for engaging said` will contact before said extensions become injured LLOYD A. BROOKE. 

